This could be a decisive year for Kalamazoo’s urban trails. That’s because the city is likely to vote on proposals to extend the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail through the city’s downtown. But while extending the trail is a popular idea, it may prove tough to find a path everyone can agree on.

Deputy City Manager Jeff Chamberlain sits at a table in his office at city hall. He points to lines traced over a map of downtown Kalamazoo, which show the path of the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail.